After initiating series of dramas and blaming everyone from Congress President Rahul Gandhi to Gujarat leaders Amit Chavda and Paresh Dhanani, besides calling Amit Chavda’s aide Kirtisinh Jhala his “agent and extortionist”, former Unjha Congress MLA Asha Patel has decided to join BJP. Patel had just given an asha (hope) to Congress leaders by saying her resignation was “immature, ill thought of and an impulsive move” and that she would rejoin the Congress without any condition.

Yet, in another transformation of heart, Asha has now decided to join BJP. She is all set to join the BJP at Patan where BJP’s cluster meeting of Patan, Mehsana and Banaskantha is taking place on Friday afternoon. Asha perfectly played a victim card and tried to garner sympathy from the Congress. All the while she was in constant touch and dialogue with BJP. The Asha episode also reflects how weak state Congress is at resolving the problems of party workers and elected representatives.

At the same time, it must be noted that the BJP put up a united strong front. Ironically, Deputy Chief minister Nitin Patel, who remains largely ignored by his party, played most active role in convincing Asha to join BJP. It should also be noted that both hail from the same district. At the same time there is a strong buzz doing rounds that BJP is introducing Asha Patel to weaken Nitin Patel’s clout on his home turf. Despite this Nitin Patel sincerely worked in convincing and ultimately getting Asha Patel into the Saffron party.

Not only that, the BJP ensured that Asha Patel came pleading to them for entry into the BJP. Ruling party sources confirmed that party has not assured anything to Asha. She was asked to meet Nitin Patel before joining in full public view to chalk out the modality. Asha Patel is expected to join the BJP today in presence of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Gujarat BJP President Jitu Vaghani and Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar in Patan.

When asked to comment on the talk of her deal with BJP, Asha Patel said: “I have not entered into any deal with the BJP or anyone. Even Congress offered me a Lok Sabha seat among other things, but my workers asked me to go for BJP and not Congress. I believe in forgoing the power when there’s no mutual respect forthcoming. Even Swami Vivekanand preached this. I am very clear about joining the BJP and that’s why I held a meeting with him.”

As per sources, Asha Patel may contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election on BJP ticket. There is also a possibility that she may get to contest from the Unjha Assembly seat. When asked to comment on the developments, Nitin Patel said: “We always look forward to strengthen our sangathan. It is Ashaben’s decision to join our party or not. As she comes from my native district and is also a relative of mine, I will be happy to help her in any manner.”

It’s worth mentioning that Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, a fellow Patidar, had expressed hope via a tweet that though Ashaben was furious like Goddess Ashapura she would return in the Congress fold. It’s another thing that Dhanani could not convince her despite having worked with her closely in the Gujarat Assembly. When asked about the Ashaben’s possible entry to BJP, GPCC chief Amit Chavda said: “Her meeting with Nitin Patel proves our belief that she had entered into some deal with BJP. I would like to stress that there are no organizational issues in the Congress as claimed by her.”